Larry Shinn, Former Danforth Professor of Religion, Dies at 83</h1> <article> <h1>Larry Shinn, Former Danforth Professor of Religion, Dies at 83</h1> <p>eburnett — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:05:35 +0000</p> <span>Larry Shinn, Former Danforth Professor of Religion, Dies at 83</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-22T15:05:35-04:00" title="Tuesday, July 22, 2025 - 15:05">Tue, 07/22/2025 - 15:05</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p dir="ltr">Larry Shinn, who taught religion at �鶹��Ƶ for 14 years, died April 2, 2025. He was 83. </p><p dir="ltr">During a tenure that started in 1970, Shinn held multiple positions before being named the Danforth Professor of Religion in 1982. He taught courses on the study of religion (Religion as a World Phenomenon), on the religions of India (Hindu and Buddhist Traditions in India and The Life and Teachings of Gandhi), and on methodology (Psychology and Religion as well as Approaches to the Study of Religion). </p><p dir="ltr">After arriving in �鶹��Ƶ, Shinn was also ordained as an elder in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. Throughout his tenure at the college, he promoted the world relief work of the Methodist Church (UMCOR) by holding seminars and giving talks and sermons on world hunger in area churches. He also served as an interim pastor for several local congregations. </p><p dir="ltr">During his last two years at �鶹��Ƶ, Shinn traveled throughout the United States, visiting more than a dozen Hare Krishna temples, engaging in participant study and interviewing Hare Krishna devotees. </p><p dir="ltr">“Larry Shinn was an immensely popular teacher on campus,” says Fairchild Professor Emeritus of Religion and East Asian Studies James Dobbins. “At a time when the study of religion at �鶹��Ƶ tended to focus on philosophy, history, and ethics, he sought to present it through the lens of anthropology and psychology—emphasizing what people actually feel and say and do in their religious life.”</p><p dir="ltr">After leaving �鶹��Ƶ, Shinn served as a professor of religion and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bucknell University. In 1994, he became the eighth president of Berea College, a position he held until his retirement in 2012. Born in Alliance, Ohio, he earned a bachelor’s degree at Baldwin-Wallace College, a bachelor of divinity at Drew Theological School, and a doctorate at Princeton University.</p><p dir="ltr">To read more about Shinn and leave a remembrance, <a href="https://murial.life/larryshinn">visit his memorial page</a>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Popular faculty member taught at �鶹��Ƶ from 1970 to 1984.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">Campus News</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-07-22T12:00:00Z">Tue, 07/22/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2412">Obituaries</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25421">Religion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/religion" hreflang="und">Religion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy �鶹��Ƶ College Archives</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Faculty Members Receive Promotions</h1> <p>hhempste — Wed, 15 May 2019 18:22:03 +0000</p> <span>Faculty Members Receive Promotions</span> <span><span>hhempste</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-05-15T14:22:03-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 15, 2019 - 14:22">Wed, 05/15/2019 - 14:22</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><ul class="news-grid"> <li> <p>In celebration of the promotions, we asked each about their most memorable experience at �鶹��Ƶ and what they enjoy about being a professor. The following are grouped by rank and listed alphabetically.</p> <p> </p> <h2 class="vertical_line">Promoted to Associate Professor</h2> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Matthew Bahar, associate professor of history</strong></p> <p>“Lately, I’ve reflected a lot on my arrival at �鶹��Ƶ in fall 2012. One encounter that semester is still etched in my mind. While walking in front of Rice Hall on the first day of class, I was approached from across the street by a student who introduced himself, welcomed me to campus, and commented on my job interview talk from the previous February. The brief exchange surprised me and helped ease my first-day jitters. We still keep in touch and enjoy recalling the end of his �鶹��Ƶ career and the beginning of mine. He proved to be only the first of many cordial, earnest, and curious students I’ve encountered here.”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Jennifer Manna</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr></li> <li> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Aaron Goldman, associate professor of biology</strong></p> <p>“My research and teaching interests lie in between several traditional disciplines. At �鶹��Ƶ, I’ve found a vibrant community of students and professors with the same enthusiasm for working across disciplinary boundaries. It’s a real privilege to work here.”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr></li> <li> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Gunnar Kwakye, associate professor of neuroscience</strong></p> <p>“I’ve always been interested in teaching, conducting research with a diverse group of individuals, and giving back to the community. However, I never considered being a professor until retired Professor of Neuroscience Lynne Bianchi recruited me as a visiting assistant professor. I was very impressed with the overall quality, dedication, and enthusiasm of �鶹��Ƶ students, as well as the support and mentorship from faculty and staff. Thus, I decided to pursue a career as a professor at �鶹��Ƶ College. My overarching goals as a professor are to recruit, mentor, teach, conduct research, and inspire a diverse group of students who are the future leaders of the world.”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr></li> <li> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Leslie Kwakye, associate professor of neuroscience</strong></p> <p>“The most enjoyable thing about being a professor is mentoring students in research. I love my research and doing my research, but I like it the most because I get to mentor students. I get to see them excited about research and develop their own scientific thinking and knowledge base —then go out and succeed in their own right.”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr></li> <li> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Paul Thibodeau, associate professor of psychology</strong></p> <p>“What I enjoy most about being a professor is having the opportunity to work with students. I love teaching and mentoring students in research. It’s incredibly rewarding to help students learn new skills and grow.”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr></li> <li> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Lola Thompson, associate professor of mathematics</strong></p> <p>“I took a yearlong sabbatical during my fourth year at �鶹��Ƶ, splitting my time between the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Germany and the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley. I was nowhere near �鶹��Ƶ, yet I kept running into �鶹��Ƶ students and faculty everywhere! I would see �鶹��Ƶ students in the audiences of my talks at conferences, where they would wait around to give me hugs and fill me in on what I was missing during my year away. While I was living in Germany, I had several colleagues reach out to me when they found themselves in nearby countries—I wound up exploring Vienna, Paris, and Berlin with other �鶹��Ƶ faculty members. When I started my position in Berkeley, I immediately received emails from various Bay Area �鶹��Ƶ alums, who wanted to meet up for coffee or offer me tours of the Googleplex. It was incredible to feel this strong sense of community, even when I was so far away from campus.”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr style="height: 3px; color: #666;"></li> <li> <h2 class="vertical_line">Promoted to Professor</h2> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Margaret Kamitsuka, professor of religion</strong></p> <p>“An aspect of teaching at �鶹��Ƶ that has been gratifying for me is hearing from former students who reconnect and share how their religion department or gender studies courses helped launch their academic and career directions. Because teachers at �鶹��Ƶ are supported in their efforts to mentor students as a whole person, these kinds of teacher-student connections are fostered and prove to be meaningful in the future.”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Jennifer Manna</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr></li> <li> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Tom Newlin, professor of Russian</strong></p> <p>“One of the really wonderful things about being a professor is that every year you have the chance to meet and get to know lots of interesting new people—your students!”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr></li> <li> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Maureen Peters, professor of biology</strong></p> <p>“It’s hard to define the mix of memorable moments that characterize life as an �鶹��Ƶ professor, but the ones that stand out in my mind usually involve gatherings of current students and alumni. These times make me realize how special it is to be a part of a community of curious, thoughtful, and caring people that extends through time and space. It’s wonderful to see how easily Obies meaningfully connect with one another, to witness their zest for life, and to hear about their journeys into professional careers and adulthood. Alumni often reflect on how their �鶹��Ƶ educations have impacted their lives and express their gratitude for their time at �鶹��Ƶ. These events make me proud to be a part of such a formative period for them.”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr></li> <li> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Baron Pineda, professor of anthropology</strong></p> <p>“Although I enjoy being in �鶹��Ƶ, my most memorable work with students has been in London, working with students and doing my own research in the context of the Danenberg-in-London Program. I have done this twice (2010 and 2015), and it allowed me to combine and intensify things that I really enjoy: working closely with students, having great academic resources at my disposal, going to plays and concerts, and traveling.”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Jennifer Manna</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr></li> <li> <div class="grid-container"> <div> <p><strong>Drew Wilburn, professor of classics</strong></p> <p>“I’ve been teaching Magic and Mystery in the Ancient World since I arrived at �鶹��Ƶ, and I love introducing students to the religious and mystical practices of the Greeks and Romans. One of the most memorable—and enjoyable—moments of my career at �鶹��Ƶ built on this, and it expanded my own areas of interest. As one of the faculty on the Danenberg �鶹��Ƶ-in-London Program in spring 2017, I was able to offer the History of Medicine, cotaught with Maureen Peters, and Magic, Witchcraft and Religion from Stonehenge to Harry Potter. I worked closely with the 24 students in the program, and we visited an immense amount of sites and museums related to medicine and magic. With the assistance of alum Tracy Chevalier, we had a sneak preview of <em>Harry Potter and the History of Magic</em> at the British Library. Later, I was able to share my knowledge with alumni by leading a tour of the exhibition when it traveled to New York City this past January. The Danenberg �鶹��Ƶ-in-London program is a unique �鶹��Ƶ opportunity, and I was thrilled to take part in it with our fantastic students.”</p> </div> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Jennifer Manna</figcaption> </figure> </div> <hr></li> </ul> <style type="text/css">.grid-container figcaption { color: inherit; position: static; left: 0; bottom: 0; background: none; padding: 0; } ul.news-grid { list-style-type: none; padding: 0; } .grid-container { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 150px; grid-column-gap: 25px; } @media only screen and (max-width: 768px) { .grid-container { grid-template-columns: 100%; grid-row-gap: 20px; } .grid-container img { object-fit: cover; object-position: 50% 0; width: 250px; height: 250px; } } .vertical_line { border-left: 4px solid #A6CE39; padding-left: 10px; } </style> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">Campus News</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2019-05-15T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/15/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Eleven faculty members have been promoted to the rank of professor or associate professor with continuous tenure for the academic year beginning July 1, 2019. </p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2414">Faculty</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4861">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25261">Classical Civilization</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25421">Religion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=24656">Anthropology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25401">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/baron-pineda" hreflang="und">Baron Pineda</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/maureen-peters" hreflang="und">Maureen Peters</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/gunnar-kwakye" hreflang="und">Gunnar Kwakye</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/leslie-kwakye" hreflang="und">Leslie Kwakye ’06</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/aaron-goldman" hreflang="und">Aaron Goldman</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/matthew-bahar" hreflang="und">Matthew Bahar</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/religion" hreflang="und">Religion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/anthropology" hreflang="und">Anthropology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Dale Preston ’83</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>